Cambodia’s Ministry of Health (MoH) on Saturday called on people, especially youths, to avoid smoking e-cigarettes, which contain high levels of nicotine that could cause serious effects on users’ health.
An e-cigarette or vape is a battery-operated device that heats up a special liquid into an aerosol that users inhale, the MoH said in a statement, adding that e-cigarettes contain large amounts of nicotine, a highly addictive substance.
“E-cigarette smokers could face a high risk of lung disease, lung cancer, heart disease, and damage to brain development,” the MoH said. For pregnant women, e-cigarette vapor affects an unborn baby’s development, the MoH added.
The MoH said although the National Authority for Combating Drugs has prohibited the import, trade, and use of e-cigarettes and shisha since 2014, some opportunists still sell these products, with exaggerated contents claiming that they are a tool to quit smoking and safer than cigarettes.
“In fact, e-cigarettes are not a device to quit smoking cigarettes. Instead, they have really caused hazards to users’ health, their families, and society,” the MoH said.
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he MoH also called on relevant authorities at all levels to curb the import, trade, and use of e-cigarettes, and to raise awareness among people about the effects on health from consuming e-cigarettes.
The MoH’s warning came after there has been an increase in the use of e-cigarettes in the Southeast Asian country, particularly among youths.
